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Summary: Michelangelo, Raphael and NO IMAGES
Review: The tale of Michelangelo and the pope's ceiling is well written if somewhat disconnected in parts. I truly enjoyed the story, even though it was a bit dry and lacking in available primary source material. But, what really annoyed me about the book (and also Picasso's War) is the lack of images. The color images of the Sistine Chapel's ceiling are small (an understatment). There are more-than-adequate images available on each panel, let alone the entire ceiling. Why are they not used. King speaks for pages about Raphael's 'School of Athens' but we only see the cartoon/drawing, not the painting. One should not be expected to sit with an art history text while reading the book !!
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Summary: The Discomfort and the Ecstasy
Review: This fascinating and informative book is crammed with all manner of information on the artistic vision, political struggles and plain hard work that went into the creation of the Sistine Chapel. Right up front you learn that Michelangelo did not paint that enormous ceiling lying flat on his back, but did so standing upright, painting above his head. You also learn that he did not want the job, seeing himself as not much of a painter and aching to get back to sculpting. The difficult technique of fresco painting is gone into in detail, giving the reader a glimpse of the monumental effort behind this masterpiece. The key characters in the book are, of course, the rugged rough Michelangelo and the urbane Warrior Pope, Julius II. This is art history vibrant with biography and background and makes for good story-telling.
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Summary: Easy Learning
Review: This well-researched and well-documented book makes learning about the topic of the Sistine Ceiling both easy and approachable. History should always be presented this way!King gives the reader a behind-the-scenes look at all of the intrigue, power plays, artistic jealousy that went on during this era in Italy. The painting of frescoes on the Sistine Chapel's ceiling was fraught with difficulties, not the least of which were the politics of the time. I especially liked reading the technical aspects of this monumental project: the mixing of the pigments and the logistics of how Michelangelo actually accomplished the painting. This topic has fascinated me ever since reading National Geographic's wonderful account of the restoration of the frescoes. King's book gave me all the background and particulars that I had wondered about. A most worthwhile book for anyone interested in learning the history of one of art's masterpieces.
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Summary: Finding God in the details
Review: This wonderful book is as much about life as it is about art. In addition to setting aside misconceptions (the artist bent over backwards rather than worked on his back), King adds all the rich tones and elements of this turbulent and colorful era. In Michaelangelo's day (the end of the fifteenth and the start of the sixteenth century), Rome was still recovering from years of neglect. Vain and often unscrupulous popes at times advanced Rome and, at other times, took the city a few steps backwards. Ill-gained wealth paid for much of the great art. Proud popes built tombs, churches and cathedrals as memorials to themselves. Michaelangelo's patron, Julius, tried to undo some of the art work of his predecessor, a man who apparently at one time attempted to poison Julius. As King writes, Rome was populated primarily by priests, pilgrims and prostitutes. As King did admirably in his telling of the story of the construction of Il Duomo in Florence, he again conveys the human element behind the sweat, genius and tumult. Intricate details about producing the most difficult art of the fresco, the daily accounting of the work, the intrigue among the assistants, the papal retinue and the two primary actors (pope and artist) breathe a life into the ceiling that comes to explain if not match the glory of the chapel work. You feel you can smell the animal dung, hear the assistants murmuring near their master, see the wet plaster transforming, and celebrate the triumph of human effort guided by God's hand. Michaelangelo was petty at times, also often paranoid about his competitors as well as his assistants and patrons. He was also a pius man, a devotee of the rabid monk Savonarola and a man willing to read signs from floods, illness and other natural acts. Much of the time Michaleangelo feared for his life from seen and imagined enemies. The human miracle is how the artist triumphed amidst these real problems. Ross' triumph is in capturing this story in a highly readable, engaging style. Thank you. Be sure to read this book before you set off on your own pilgrimage to Rome and the Sistine.
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Summary: To be brief, the most interesting book on Michelangelo
Review: To be brief, the most interesting book on Michelangelo and Raphaello that I have ever read -- nearly as interesting and exciting as seeing the actual works of art!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: Wonderful book about Italy during the Rennaisance. Michaelangelo, Pope Julius II, and all the other artists, architects, and players of the period all come to life! I can't wait to read Brunelleschi' Dome next!!!
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Summary: A great read...
Review: Wonderful insight on one of the most amazing works of art and information about the master himself. Explore the relationships of many men and women during this turbulent period in history. Facinating.
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